Otto h



O. H. ERICKSON.

ARHFICIAL LEG.'

APPLIQATIUN ULEB DEC. 9. |918 1,303,645. 11a-1611101 May13,1919.

fbg .j Fay-j@ i* TED ENT OFFICE. N

orfro 1I. ERICKSON, or!IVIINNEAISOLIS,` MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed December 9, 1918i Serial No. 265,848.

and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artincial Legs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip#` tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper-` tains to make and use the same. My invention relates to articial legs an is particularly directed to theimprovement of the construction and operation `of artificial legs for lower leg or shank amputations. To the above ends, generally stated,the invention Mconsists 'of the novel devioesfan'd combinations of `devices hereinafter de` scribed and Adefined inthe claims.' In the accompanying drawings whichv illustrate lthe invention, like characters `indicate` like parts throughout the several views. Referring to the drawings, y j Figure 1 is a sideelev'ation showing the improved artificial-leg;

Fig.`2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale chiefly in vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig.` 1, but with some `parts shown in full; y p

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the so-called lower end strap hooks; Fig. 4 is an inner face elevation of the clips shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; `and Fig. 1ZL is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verti*` cal section illustrating the modified `form of the leg wherein lower portions of the lower hanger straps are-omitted. y

Of the parts of the leg, the numeral 6 indicates the shank or lower edge section, the numeral 7 the foot which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank 6 by a hinge bolt 8 the numeral 9 the slip socket which works telescopically in the upper end of the shank 6 and has a shoulder '10engageable as a stop with the upper edge of .said shank; andthe numeral 11 indicates the lso-called lacer, which latter is applied around the thigh of the wearer in the customary way, being usu ally laced in front." vy ,l f

It is customary to connectthe lacer` and the shank by so-called hinge straps and this I do in my improved leg in a novel and improved manner. The upper hinge straps 12 are secured to the sides of the lacer 11` in the customary way and are pivotally connected by screws 13, or similar devices, to the upper ends of the lower hinge straps 14.` These lower hinge straps 14 are riveted to the =sides of the shank 6 and, as one novel feature of `this invention, are extended downward along the sides of the shank and their `lower ends are pivoted on the bolt or pivotal connection 8 between the shank and foot. In this way, the load from the weight of the wearer is distributed through the entire shank and is carried down to the foot through the angle joint 8. This is highly important whenthe leg ismade for heavy persons and where, of course, extra strength isdesired in the leg. It is also important in any leg structure because it reinforces the shank, permits the same to be made Of lighter material than would otherwisejbe possible, and moreover, prevents shrinkage or variation in the length of the leg. 1

In the upper portions, the` hinge straps 14 are expanded and formed withlong wide slots 14a which give the said straps, near their upper ends, an endless `lloop formation withparallel sides. In line withthe slots 14a ofthe straps 14, shank 6 `is formed in its sides withveitical slots 6a that correspond in size, preferably to the slots 14a. The slip socket `9 is preferably extended' down in the shank approximately as far as the lower extremities of theslots 6EL and 14a and, at their lower side portions are provided with rigidly secured anchoring hooks 15 preferably formed of flat `spring steel riveted to the shank,and at theirupper ends provided with flat outstanding hooks `that are adapted to detachably engage the upturned hookiiange 16 of floating Joint hooks 17. These socalled floating hooks 17 are preferably made from flat spring steel and'` at their outer upper edges are formed with slots 18 through which the lower end portions of heavy elastic straps 19 are passed. These elastic straps 19 work in the slots 14a and are preferably nearly as wide as the said slots, and at their upper `ends they are lapped through slots in the lower ends of small anchoring plates or clips 20, which, by y-means of screws` 21 are securedto the upper portions of the straps 14 just above the uper extremities of their slots 14a. To provide for vertical,` adjust-` ments of the elasticstraps 19, the clips 20 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced holes 22, through any oneof which the screws 21 `:may be passed. This affords in Figs". 3, 4 -and 5, so that :they ,project beyond the sides ofthe slots 6a and -work frictionally against the inner surfaces -of the shank 6, thereby affording wearing and guiding surfaces for :the vlower 4portion of the socket. Inasmuc'h as the -shank 6 will be made kof non-metallic substance, such, for example, as vraw hide, wood, or fiber board, the frictional movement .of the ends of the flange 16 against the said shank wihl produce very little friction and no noise.

The pivotal connection at 13 between the joint straps 12 and 14, of course, affords the kneepivetor joint of `the artificial leg. The looped upper `end portions of the straps 14 so reinforce the upper portion of the shank 6 thatsaid shank .may be slotted in the `connection of the clips 15 and 17 therethrough and still the said shank may -be brought to the top --ef fthe loop,v and .thus made of `full length. The' ful-l length vshank .gives the best `kind Iof a gniide for the slip socket .and gives theibest ,possible form of leg. In this way, also, the slip socket is connected to the elastic suspend-ing strap through `slets in the shank as well as through slots inthe lower `hinge straps. p The elastic straps, be-

cause of their ilat :formation are :advisably employed rather than coiled springs, but in a broad sense, the said elastic straps are springs. It will be further noted that the channels 92L in the sides -of the slip socket, while permitting axial movements thereof,

hold the same against rotation, and in suchr positions that when forced downward to position, the hooks l5 will Ibe alined with the grooves 6a for proper engagement with the lioating hooks 16-17. As the upper and outer .portions 17 of the said floating :hooks work in @the slots .14%, they are then, ofcourse,

held -interlocked with Athe hooks 15 and.

against Iedgewise displacement. v .The construction described, while highly effi-cient, is cheap to make, strong and durable, and moreover, -capable `of easy repairs. The elastic straps 19, .-for instance, if worn out, maybe very easily and quickly replaced. In the niodiiied'construetion illustrated in Fig. I.1"{,-the lower portions ofthe hinge 1strap 14 are omitted, but .the vsaid lower straps herein designated .by ,14b fare, nevertheless, provided with loops that completely surround the slots 14a, thereby reinforcing the upperportion of the shank :partly around 'hooks and clips described in connection with Figs. l to 5, inclusive, would be employed in .Y the 1nodilied form of Fig. 1a.

What I claim is:

1. In an artificial leg, the combination with .a shank equipped with a foot at its lower end and provided in its sides near its upper end with longitudinal slots, -of `a lacer having upper hinge straps depending from its sides, lower hinge straps secured to `the sides of said shank and pivotally connected to said upper hinge straps, a slip socket working in the upper end of said shank, :and springs anchored to the sides of said shank in kthe vicinity of the upper portions of said slots and connected to said shank through these slots.

2. In an artificial leg, the combination with a shank and a lacer, of pivotall-y connected upper and lower hinge straps .secured to the sides, respectively, of said lacer and shank, said hinge straps and the sides of said shank having alined slots, the slots of said shank .being completely surrounded and reinforced by-an integral loop-like portion of said lower hinge straps, a slip socket telescoped into said shank and having hooks alined with said slots, springs alined with said slots ,anchored at .their upper ends to said lower hinge straps and provided at their lower ends with hooks for detachable interlocking engagement with the hooks of said socket.

3. In an artificial leg, the combination with a shank and a lacer, o-f pivotally connected upper and lower hinge straps secured to :the sides, respectively, of said lacer and shank, said hinge straps and the sides of said shank having alined slots, the slots of said shank being surrounded and reinforced by said lower hinge straps, a slip socket telescoped into said shank and having hooks alined with said slots, springs alined with said slots anchored at their upper ends to said lower hinge straps and provided at their lower ends With hooks for detachable interlocking engagement with the hooks of said socket, the connection between 'the upper ends of said springs and said 'lower straps including anchoring clips, and means for 'adjusting the same vertically in respect to said straps.

4. In an artificial leg, the combination with a shank and a lacer, of pivotally connected upper and lower hinge straps secured to the sides, respectively, of said lacer and shank, said hinge straps and the sides of said shank having alined slots, the slots of said shank being surrounded Vand reinforced bysaid lower hinge straps, a slip socket telescoped into said shank and having hooks alined with said slots, springs alined with said .slots anchored at their upper ends to said lower hinge straps and provided at their In testimony whereof I alx my signature lower end with hooks for detachable interin presence of two witnesses. locking engagement with the hooks of said socket, the hooks on the lower ends of said OTTO H' ERICKSON' 5 springs having extended portions that over- Witnesses:

lap the edges of the slots in said shank and CLARA DEMAREST,

work between seid shank and slip socket. B. Gr. BAUMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eaeh, by addressing the Commissioner o! latents, Washington. D. C. 

